Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, 1984), currently without a club, attends to ACE to analyze its two former teams: Madrid and City. Curiously, the English team yielded Madrid in the winter of 2011 with Mourinho. He was not a star, but he scored eight goals and played a decisive role against Barça in the final of the Copa del Rey (1-0). The striker has just parted company with Paraguay's Olympia and could put his boots back on very soon.
Despite being 36 years old, you still play soccer. What is a normal day in Adebayor's life like?
A normal day for me is getting up, brushing my teeth, a good shower, relaxing …
You are a globetrotter … Which team scored you the most?
I was playing in Monaco, Arsenal and City, among others, before coming to Madrid and I saw the difference. Madrid is ahead of the rest. I had a wonderful experience there. I love Madrid and I want to say goodbye when I have the chance. When I signed for the club it was the best time of my life. At the end of the day, it is where I have spent the least time in my career, but it is the club that marked me the most. The organization was incredible, the treatment, the love of the fans. Everything.
Do you think he will come back against City?
If you had asked me this two years ago, I would say yes. Madrid would be a favorite with Cristiano. They had that scoring machine. He could make a difference at any time and had 50 goals per season. They lost the first game at home, at the Bernabéu 2-1, and it will be very difficult with the fans, with Manchester, the city, the time … But it is not impossible. Madrid have many players with a lot of experience such as Marcelo, Benzema, Courtois and they are prepared for great games.
Did you understand that Madrid sold Cristiano?
Without Cristiano, Madrid knew what they were losing, but they did not know what they could win. I think they thought they would have another player like Ronaldo and that only comes one every 200 years.
Do you think Benzema will be able to score against City the goals Madrid needs?
Since Ronaldo left the club, he has had to take responsibility and I think he has done well. He has scored several goals, important goals for Madrid. It will be a danger, of course.
Do you think Manchester deserved to win at the Bernabéu?
The first half was even, but it all happened in 50 minutes. Madrid went 1-0, then 1-1 and then Sergio Ramos ends with a red card. This only happens in the big games and we are going to enjoy a lot on the lap. I think that Manchester home stretch was very good and they deserved to win.
One last curiosity. Do you think Madrid with Mourinho grew as a club?
I love Mourinho, we had a good relationship and it is he who took me to Madrid, although it was not easy to get there. The only trophy I have won so far has been in Madrid with him. Although he is now at Tottenham, I wish him all the best, and he is the best coach who has gone through the history of football.
The man of the 11 teams
On March 23, Adebayor decided to travel from Paraguay to Togo to spend the quarantine with his family. But he was going to run into an unforeseen event: he was detained in Benin with other tourists due to government restrictions. This was the beginning of a mess that would mean his farewell to the Olympia in Paraguay. But if we look back, this was only his last club in a long list: Merlan, Metz, Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Basaksehir and Kayserirspor mark his resume. Despite having been in the elite for almost 20 years, the truth is that his only title was the Copa del Rey that he won with Madrid. Of course, he has starred in several large-scale transfers: 25 million were paid by City to Arsenal in 2009. The same number Tottenham deposited with the Citizien team just four years later. In addition, few players will be able to boast of having shared a locker room with footballers such as Cristiano, Van Persie, Fábregas, Silva, Eriksen …: “I consider myself privileged for the entire career I am having. Soccer has given me everything and I want to continue as long as my body allows it. I have had unique moments and I can only thank those people who helped me. I will never forget what I have fun with a ball at my feet. ” Indeed, as Adebayor himself indicates, he will not withdraw until he can no longer take it. In February 2021, he will be 37 years old, and he will surely fulfill them on a playing field.
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DANI POZO (AFP)